Context: In this episode of the Perspective Prog. based on Towards Clean Energy. Electricity drives our lifestyles. Everything from a computer to a television to refrigerator needs energy. 

• The energy supply sector (electricity, heat, and other energy) is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approx. 35% of total emissions. 
• Switching to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind or hydroelectric power, also means less pollution and new and better jobs. 
• To get back on track for the 1.5°C goal, emissions from the energy sector need to be halved by 2030 and eliminated by 2050. 
• On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson jointly launched the `one world, one sun, one grid’ initiative at the COP 26 Climate Meet in Glasgow, envisioning a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy green grids. 
• One Sun, One World & One Grid will not only reduce storage needs but also enhance the viability of solar projects. 
• This creative initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy cost but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and region. 
• India has also made a commitment at COP 26 Summit that by 2030 it will fulfill 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy and bring its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.

About the initiative

• The initiative brings together the International Solar Alliance and the UK’s green grid initiative and complements India’s focus on harnessing the sun’s energy.
• The grid will be set up over the next few years by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), another initiative authored by India initially, to transport solar power to different countries.
• The vision behind the OSOWOG is ‘The Sun Never Sets’ and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time.

Implementation

• A Ministerial Steering Group will work towards accelerating the making of large solar power stations and wind farms in the best locations, linked together by continental-scale grids crossing national borders.
• The Ministerial Steering Group includes France, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, and will also have representatives from Africa, the Gulf, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Significance of world grid

• With one worldwide grid, we can access clean energy at all places. The need to store energy would also lessen, and the viability of solar projects will increase.

Potential and benefits of the initiative

• India would generate 40% of power from non-fossil fuels by 2030 and has called for connecting solar energy supply across borders giving the mantra of ‘One World One Sun One Grid’.
• The proposed integration would lead to reduced project costs, higher efficiencies and increased asset utilization for all the participating entities.
• This plan will require only incremental investment because it will not require a parallel grid infrastructure due to working with existing grids.
• It will help all the participating entities in attracting investments in renewable energy sources as well as utilizing skills, technology and finances.
• Resulting economic benefits would positively impact poverty alleviation and support in mitigating water, sanitation, food and other socio-economic challenges.
• It will allow national renewable energy management centers in India to grow as regional and global management centers.
• At a global level, almost 2,600 GW of interconnection capacity may be possible up to 2050, delivering estimated power savings of 226 billion euros per year.

One Sun Declaration

• The announcement was accompanied by the “One Sun Declaration”, which stated that, “realising the vision of ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ through interconnected green grids can be transformational, enabling all of us to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to prevent dangerous climate change, to accelerate the clean energy transition, and to achieve the sustainable development goals.
• The declaration has been endorsed by 80 ISA member countries.